Aegis vows to stick to Flynn road map

Flynn diversified the media company's operations since taking office in 1999, most significantly building up a major market research business. He also remained committed to Aegis' independence, stressing in an interview with Media earlier this year the advantages of pitching for business without ties to associated firms within a holding company. "There will be no change in company strategy," an Aegis representative said, pointing to a track record of high growth since Flynn joined. This approach has "proved that our independent and holistic approach to client needs is the way forward in our industry". Flynn's replacement, non-executive director Robert Lerwill, will focus on business areas that promise the highest growth, such as digital media and communications planning. "Other priorities will be to grow our three other networks, Vizeum, our challenger media network, Isobar, our digital media network and Posterscope, outdoor media, in Asia-Pacific," the spokesman said. Aegis is also looking to introduce marketing effectiveness analysis practised by its US MMA operation into Asia sometime this year. Flynn is leaving the media business to become chief executive of major UK firm Rentokil Initial, which had been searching for a new chief executive following a boardroom coup last year. Lerwill was group finance director at WPP for 10 years between 1986 and 1996. Since then, he worked at UK telecoms business Cable & Wireless, initially as group finance director and then as chief executive of its regional division.